"Mad! Violet!"
The name came years ago with 2 daughters, Madeleine and Violet. Stirling, their father and accomplished vineyard manager by trade, calling them from downstairs for whatever the case may have been. After years in the wine industry, Stirling and his winemaker wife Kelly started with a couple barrels for their own personal enjoyment. With passion and drive behind them, the label and varietals came naturally. Mad Violets.
With years in the wine industry both locally and abroad, Kelly earned a degree in Enology at OSU. Driven by artistry, she began taking all of the reigns as winemaker, and in 2006, she began crafting wines for local esteemed wineries. The couple has kept a quiet and personal touch at the property with a small single tasting room, known as the Tiny Taster, for guests. Stirling has even built a stage for close personal friends to have “Stirlfest” once a year with live music!
Their residence sits on 21 acres with only 3 being planted on site. With the inclusion of artisanal fruit from several of Stirling’s vineyard management clients, they produce around 1,000 cases total. With anything though, there can be stressful times. In 2013 when the tail end of a typhoon came through, Stirling and Kelly were worried the grapes could be lost. They worked diligently and picked any fruit they felt couldn’t handle the volume of rain expected and left the rest to ripen more fully. They were elated when their hard work and insight paid off with a beautiful vintage that was pristine in the end.
Their Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is created by spontaneous native yeast. With gentle handling and carefully controlled temperatures, the Pinot Noir works well with the skins for its tannins. Kelly uses 40% new oak aged 18 months. Rich ruby color and undertones of indigo, ripe essence of black cherry, cedar and dried roses with deep notes of strawberries and raspberries, lavender and sandalwood. Balanced acidity and the lush tannins extend the silky finish.
Riesling from the Dundee Hills AVA are old vines from the Maresh Vineyard that were first planted in 1970, arguably the oldest Riesling vineyard in Yamhill. Kelly and Stirling keep the same 1 acre plot for their Riesling every year. Only around 190 cases are produced each year with the first case in 2011. Crafted in the off-dry German Kabinett style, this wine displays fresh minerality with vibrant citrus, honey and stone fruits. It finishes with sweet stone and floral notes.
In 2016 the decision was made to stop production on the Pinot Gris and move their efforts to 9 clones of Chardonnay, which they planted on their own Buttonfield Vineyard. No commercial yeast is used in the process of crafting Mad Violet's’ Chardonnays, and the lees in the barrels are stirred everyday during primary fermentation. The goal in Kelly’s winemaking is balance. Rock infuses the wine with bold minerality as well, aromatics of white peach, honeysuckle and subtle passion fruit. The approach is smooth and refreshing with ideal alcohol and long succulent finish.
Quiet and tucked away amongst acres upon acres of regional vineyards, Mad Violets’ Tiny Taster is tucked into the meadow below Buttonfield Vineyard. Tenzing and Disco Blue, their Tibetan Mastiff vineyard dogs roam the lands. You can taste the quality, passion and years of combined experience of Stirling and Kellys’ endeavors. Leaving the hustle and bustle behind, you can take a breath of fresh air overlooking the terroir, tasting quietly at this tucked away gemstone in Newberg, Oregon.
